Back to School Shopping Is Easy This Summer With Online Service That Helps Parents Save Time and Money

Parents Can Win Back-to-School Items and Other Prizes in '2008 NearbyNow HOLD IT. WIN IT.(TM) for Back to School' Sweepstakes


LOS ALTOS, CA--(Marketwire - June 23, 2008) - NearbyNow (http://www.nearbynow.com/) is a unique online service that helps consumers find any product, brand, or sale at the nearby shopping mall and put items on hold to pick-up, by using the Web or a mobile phone. Parents no longer have to shop for back-to-school items by going from store-to-store trying to figure out which retailer has the best deal or the right sizes, and can now save time and money by ensuring that all the right products will be waiting for them upon arrival. As an additional bonus this back to school season, from July 18 - September 5, 2008, parents and others who use the NearbyNow service to place an item on hold (or send an SMS text message HOLDIT to 632729 (NEARBY) will automatically be entered for a chance to win great prizes in the "2008 NearbyNow HOLD IT. WIN IT.™ for Back to School Sweepstakes." They may also win the item they put on hold!

This year's Back to School shopping season will be easier than ever before, as NearbyNow offers consumers the new and most effortless way to shop. Parents can now search over 800,000 products at their local shopping mall, "check availability" to make sure items are available in the size and color they desire, and take advantage of the "reserve now" function to put items on hold to pick up. They even get a personalized claim check sent via e-mail or to their mobile phone that tells them exactly who to ask for when picking up the item. Every time they check inventory or reserve a product, it's a chance to win!

NearbyNow is available in nearly 200 shopping malls in 130 U.S. cities, and 50% of U.S. consumers are within 30 miles of a NearbyNow-enabled shopping center. Shoppers will also find current sales and available coupons, so they never miss out on savings. Once in the mall, parents and other shoppers can search for last-minute items directly from their mobile phone, and even sign up for hot deals to get sent to their mobile phone on a weekly basis.

"Kids may look forward to new sneakers or the new 'must-have' backpack for the new school year -- yet for parents who are intent on finding bargains and saving time, back to school shopping can be both stressful and time-consuming," says Theresa Boldrini-Laird, shopping expert for NearbyNow.com. "NearbyNow's online shopping service (http://www.nearbynow.com/) helps parents and kids ease the stress and expense of shopping by ensuring no trip to the mall is wasted. We thought it would also be nice for a chance to win back to school items just by using the service."

There are five categories of grand prizes. Parents and children can win gift cards from Buckle® and Metropark®, iPhone® 3G - 8GB mobile digital devices *, Mimobot® Swirl 1GB USB Flash Drives, and a Nintendo DS® Lite handheld game unit. Or, they can win NearbyNow "Win It" Prizes, which gives up to five lucky shoppers per week, who put items on hold for in-store pick up, could get prizes for free. So search it, check for it, reserve it and pick it up at your convenience -- with NearbyNow!

The sweepstakes is open to U.S. residents age 13 or older, and there is no purchase required to enter or win. NearbyNow has partnered with renowned retailers including Buckle, Metropark, among others -- so shoppers can log on to www.nearbynow.com/holdit to find the nearest mall and additional sweepstakes information.

About NearbyNow, Inc.

NearbyNow, Inc. provides a unique online service that allows consumers to search all products, brands, and sales currently available at local shopping centers using the Internet or mobile phones. Shoppers can even put items on hold to pick up, ensuring that items will be available in the needed size and color. Working with shopping centers and retailers across the United States, NearbyNow enables consumers to easily access local information both before and during their shopping trips. The company also creates an efficient marketing tool for retailers to target nearby consumers, helping to drive sales by turning online shoppers into in-store buyers. NearbyNow is headquartered in Los Altos, CA. Additional information can be obtained by phone at (650) 947-1300 or via the Web at www.nearbynow.com, or try our service at a shopping mall near you by texting to NEARBY (632729).

* Product trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Buckle® and Metropark® are co-sponsors of this promotion. All other companies are not sponsors of or otherwise affiliated with this promotion.

Contact Information: MEDIA CONTACT: Sam Curley Trier and Company for NearbyNow (415)515-9064 - mobile sam@triercompany.com